Long Awaited Nationwide Ban Of Asbestos Expected This Week

Canadians have been patiently (or perhaps impatiently) waiting for a comprehensive ban of asbestos every since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government was moving towards one this past May. As has been covered extensively by the DF Technical & Consulting Services Ltd. Blog, no official announcement of a ban has been made yet. However, as CBC News reports, one is expected this week.

According to Julie Ireton, the federal government finally plans to announce a comprehensive ban on asbestos in Canada. “The country currently allows imports of construction products and automotive parts that contain the toxic fibre, even though Canada no longer exports the material,” she writes, “Asbestos is known to cause deadly cancers and lung diseases, and has already been banned in Europe, Australia and Japan. The World Health Organization recommends replacing asbestos with safer substitutes.”

Organizations such as the Canadian Labour Congress have been front and centre in the call for the nationwide ban of the hazardous substance. Formerly used in the construction of homes, office buildings and schools, primarily for the purposes of insulation, asbestos is known for having its airborne fibres cause lung cancer and other deadly diseases such as mesothelioma. All in all, it’s responsible for the deaths of about 2,000 Canadians per year.

And even though the production of asbestos came to a halt in Canada years ago, the nation has continued to import products, such as brake pads, that contain asbestos. As Ireton points out, asbestos, when undisturbed, isn’t particularly dangerous. However, once fibres are disturbed, they can become airborne. This causes major complications for the respiratory systems of anyone who inhales the fibres.

Such instances have occurred far too often in Canadian workplaces. “From time to time contractors, electricians, plumbers, custodians, firefighters and cable installers unknowingly disrupt pipes, walls, ceilings and other materials that contain the toxic fibre,” Ireton explains, “Public Services and Procurement Canada announced in April that it planned to ban the use of asbestos in that department’s construction projects.”

She goes on to report that “the department has also developed an inventory of its buildings that contain asbestos, and several other departments are expected to follow that lead.” Those who have been keeping up with the DF Technical & Consulting Services Ltd. Blog know all too well the deadly ramifications endured by far too many Canadians at the hands of inhaled asbestos fibres. And while the call for a comprehensive ban is expected this week, it still can’t come soon enough.

To be honest, we still can’t figure out what the hold-up is. Ireton’s CBC News report was published this past Friday. As of this writing, the ban has not yet been announced. You can expect for us to report on the announcement once it is made. Of course, we’re also continuing to do our part to help those who may have asbestos present in their homes and workplaces.

Our Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) Services include a number of asbestos testing procedures such as an onsite assessment and sampling and analysis of materials collected from various parts of your home or office. For more information, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-855-668-3131 or email info@dftechnical.ca.